Tight end's massive contract underscores real priorities in NFL

Much has been made this offseason about the league's best running backs struggling to get the money they feel they're worth. Hockenson and his contract are a prime example of where that money is getting spent.

After his four consecutive 1,000-yard rushing seasons, Minnesota cut running back Dalvin Cook before his age-28 season. Two months later, the Jets signed Cook to a one-year, $7 million contract, while Hockenson is reportedly getting a four-year deal worth exponentially more than Cook's. 

Meanwhile, Packers running back Aaron Jones agreed to take a $5 million pay cut to stay in Green Bay, and Giants RB Saquon Barkley and reigning rushing champion Josh Jacobs of the Raiders held out for deals worth barely more than the franchise tag. 

The production of a Cook or a Barkley is much easier to replicate than that of a Hockenson and his fellow tight ends, George Kittle of the Niners or Travis Kelce of the Chiefs. As the NFL learned when James Conner filled in for Le'Veon Bell with the Steelers in 2018, good running backs are plentiful. Some, like Kansas City seventh-round pick Isiah Pacheco, can be found in lower rounds. 

Players like Hockenson, Kittle and Kelce are simply much more difficult to find. 

Their combination of size, strength and speed makes them matchup nightmares for most teams through the air, with defensive backs often being too small to stop them and linebackers too slow. They're also strong enough to act as an extra offensive lineman in run situations.

If you want to win the Super Bowl in the modern NFL, that's the kind of player you need.